Multipurpose tool for use by golfers



Jan. 23, 1968 c. L. GARRETT 3, 0

MULTIPURPOSE TOOL FOR USE BY GOLFERS Filed Dec. 30, 1965 Clarence L. Garret,

1N IIJNTOR.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,364,508 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 3,364,508 MULTIPURPOSE TOOL FOR USE BY GOLFERS Clarence L. Garrett, 12 S. Addinsell, Phillips, Tex. 79071 Filed Dec. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 517,762 3 Claims. (Cl. 7-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOEURE The present invention relates, broadly classified, to plural bladed compound tools and has to do, more specifically, with a tool which resembles a pocket knife but which, unlike a conventional pocket knife, has projectible and retractible blades which are usable singly and collectively by a golfer in making his game more pleasurable in a manner to be hereinafter more fully revealed.

Briefly, the tool herein disclosed is characterized by several companion or complemental blades. These blades have corresponding ends hingedly or pivotally mounted between outer end portions of the channel walls of a channel-shaped sheath. Thus far described the invention is analogous to and comparable with a conventional pocket knife. However, and to the ends desired, the blades in particular are individually distinct and are foldably and protectively sheathed in the channel portion of the sheath, each blade featuring component portions which permits the tool, collectively considered, to serve the particular purposes which, as experience has shown, have been found to be of assistance to the user.

With the improved tool in hand the golfer has a threein-one implement which is capable of gratifying and helpful use in any one or all of several or more different ways. In carrying out this aspect of the overall concept one blade is hingedly mounted at one end. The other free end is provided with a V-shaped notch which provides a kerf or crotch capable of being applied to the base or shank portion of a stud-type cleat in a manner to probe and loosen an attached leaf, piece of paper or the like which might be troublesome to remove if mechanical aid were not available. The lengthwise edge or edges adjacent the kerf are also beveled outwardly and amply sharpened to provide scraping edges capable of assisting the user in dislodging mud, dirt and extraneous matter that requires removal from the bottom of the golfers shoe, the heel portion, sole portion or both.

A second blade has one end pivoted in the sheath and the other end fashioned into a head which head is provided with at least one and preferably two outstanding prongs. These prongs are of tooth-like construction and have truncated terminal ends and can be handily used particularly when one desires to rake objectionable dirt and mud or similar deposits from the grooves used in ball striking surfaces of certain clubs, particularly the irons.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a third pivoted blade having an outer end portion which is increased in cross-section, is stout lengthwise and has its free end fashioned into a screwdriver, more particularly a Phil- 1ips-type screwdriver, the latter having the secondary purpose of a probing point and as a matter of fact being capable of use with requisite nicety when the golfer is called upon, prior to starting a putt, to repair or attempt to restore the putting surface between the ball and the cup.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a multipurpose tool or implement for use by golfers showing the several blades sheathed or folded within the captive confines of the channel of the sheath;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with parts in elevation taken approximately on the plane of the section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken centrally through the implement or tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 and which is on an enlarged scale and which shows the individual blades or tools and how they are expressly designed and constructed for selective and conjoint usage by the golfers; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view of one blade or tool which may be conveniently described as taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the sheath or handle unit this is denoted by the numeral 6 and is made of plastic, metal, moldable hard rubber or a combination of such materials. The sheath is suitably elongated and of appropriate cross-section for pocket-size use. It is channel-shaped in cross-section and accordingly embodies a lengthwise web or connecting wall 8 between lower edge portions of the opposed parallel side walls 10. The end portions of the channel are open as is the upper lengthwise portion. At the righthand end the wall portions 121 are increased suitably in height and are shaped as shown to provide upstanding spaced parallel guards. The fact that the implements or blades are foldable into the channel also permits the channel to serve as a housing and protective sheath. For quick identification one blade is denoted at A, a second complemental and companion blade at B and a third blade at C. An end portion 14 (FIG. 3) of the blade A is suitably rounded and hingedly or pivotally mounted on a journaling pin (a simple countersunk rivet) as at 16, said pin being provided to the left and right of the blade with suitable spacing hubs or sleeves 18. The body portion of the blade is provided along one edge with a finger handling niche as at 20. The body portion is denoted at 22. The outer free end portion is provided with a V-shaped crotch or notch 24 which is also referred to, under certain circumstances,

as a cleat probing kerf. The adjacent lengthwise edges are beveled and slope outwardly and downwardly as at 26 to provide suitable scraping and cutting edges. Thus this blade is a knife and probing implement and can be folded away as shown in full lines and swung to use as shown in full lines at the right in FIG. 3.

Taking up the tool or blade B secondly it will be seen that this blade is provided with a body portion 28 and a rounded end portion 30 which is hingedly or pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 32 provided at the lefthand end of the sheath. The median body portion is provided with a finger niche at 34. The outer end portion is increased substantially in cross-sectional thickness to provide a tapering cylindrical shank 36 whose outer end is fashioned into a simple Phillips-type screwdriver. As shown in FIG. 4, the circumferentially spaced ribs 38 and intervening recesses 40 provide the desired cruciform terminal end which has an appropriate point or pinnacle 42 and which accordingly provides a stout screwdriver. This screwdriver is capable of being successfully used to keep the screws tight, that is the screws that are found in the sole portion of wooden clubs and in many instances in inserts in the ball impacting surfaces of woods. Not only this and equally important, this screwdriver has the important function of successful use for putting green repairs. Sometimes it is necessary to level the area of an indentation or imprint of a golf ball between the cup and the golfers putting ball. There are other nominal adjustments and repairs that are permitted and it has been found that this screwdriver-type point is excellent when handled with the skill expected of professional golfers.

It may be stated here that the usual retaining means used for enclosed blades and penknives and pocket knives is not detailed here and may or may not be necessary in final models. It is believed that the pivoted ends of the blades can be friction-retained.

With respect now to the third tool or blade C, this comprises a blade of uniform width from end to end the body portion of which is denoted at 44. The connectible end is suitably constructed at 46 and hinged or pivoted in place on the pivot means 32. The finger niche usually required is denoted along one edge at 48. The outer free end portion is fashioned into a widened head 50 whose marginal portions 52 and 54 are provided with circumferentially spaced integral outstanding tooth-like prongs. These prongs are alike and each is denoted by the numeral 56. The outer free end of the prong, the prong being rectangular in cross-section, is truncated and flattened as at 58 and the adjacent side edge portions 60 are chamfered and accordingly slope toward the flattened end. This blunt-type tooth provides an excellent probing prong for use when one desires to scrape accumulated dirt, mud and extraneous matter from a groove or grooves in the ball striking face of a club, particularly an iron. Ordinary penknives and the like constitute makeshift implements and accordingly are not comparable with the adaptably usable innovation herein disclosed.

By reason of the fact that the headed end 50 is enlarged, as it were, the heightened flange-like portions 12 provide the desired guard and safety result clearly brought out in both FIGS. 1 and 2.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multipurpose tool for use by golfers comprising: a pocket-size sheath, said sheath being elongated, channel-shaped in cross-section and embodying like side walls joined along corresponding longitudinal edges by an intervening connecting web and open along opposed longitudinal edges and also open at its respective transverse ends, said side walls being provided at one end of said sheath with a pair of relatively short upstanding spaced parallel flanges cooperating with each other and defining a blade guard, manually projectable and retractable blade means comprising a plurality of individual blades having outer ends pivotally mounted between said side walls in respectively cooperable outer end portions of the channel of said sheath, all of said blades being of the same length and commensurate in length with the length of said sheath and adapted to be normally stored in an out-of-the-Way position within the confines of the channel when not in use, there being at least three blades, one of said blades having an enlarged head at the end thereof opposite its pivoted end, said head being fiat-faced and having marginal edge portions provided at circumferentially spaced places with coplanar outstanding tooth-like prongs, said prongs being selectively usable, the outer terminal end of each prong being truncated, flat and blunt, and the adjacent companion side surfaces being planar and beveled toward and merging with said blunt terminal end, said prongs being of a length that they can be and are safely stored in an out-of-the-way position in said channel with at least one of the prongs shielded by the aforementioned blade guard flanges.

2. The tool according to claim 1 and wherein a second one of said blades has the end opposite its pivoted end free, said free end being centrally provided with a V- shaped kerf, and the longitudinal edges of said blade ranging from the median portion of said blade toward and to said V-shaped kerf being beveled outwardly and sharpened to provide elongated knife-like scraping edges.

3. The tool according to claim 2 and wherein the third one of said blades has its outer end free and circular and relatively stout in cross-section, said free end being provided with converging circumferentially spaced ribs coacting with each other and defining a Phillips head screwdriver, said screwdriver being capable of auxiliary use as a manually manipulable surface repair tool when so desired on a putting green.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 296,492 4/1884 Wheeler 30-152 X 707,690 8/1902 Foster 7l1 1,015,026 1/1912 Jackson et al 716 X 2,706,902 4/ 1955 Nichols. 3,050,760 8/1962 Darnell 15-237 X OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, Assistant Examiner. 

